Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh - Blog Tour Review

Today I'm proud to be part of the blog tour celebrating the release of Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh.

Secrets Between Us

One letter a week for fifteen years. 780 identical white envelopes brimming with my sister’s darkest secrets. All the intimate details of a life as different to mine as could possibly be.

I read each letter slowly to make sure I understand it perfectly, one day very soon it will be a matter of life and death…

At the end of each letter, after signing her name, there is always one final sentence:

Don’t forget to burn this letter.

I’ll let you decide if I do…

A jaw-dropping psychological thriller that you will read in one sitting. If you loved dark, twisty thrillers like The Girl on The Train, The Couple Next Door and Friend Request, this unputdownable novel will have your heart racing long after you’ve finished reading.

My Review

When I first read the blurb for Secrets Between Us, I was instantly drawn to it as I love anything that has letters in, being a big snail mail fan myself. I also find they add intrigue and mystery to thrillers when done properly.

Secrets Between Us is definitely a slow burn, in the fact that it builds up in both pace and tension until a super fast paced ending. I really enjoyed this as it kept me engaged and I wanted to keep reading "just one more chapter". Honestly this book is one you just need to find a cosy spot, get a blanket and a brew and sit there until you're finished.

The characters were both fascinating and I was never really sure who to fully trust, or whether both Ellie and Tia were unreliable. The relationship between twins is always interesting and I think this story added a different dimension to that with the fact the sisters are living such different lives.

I really loved this book and I am already looking forward to Valerie Keogh's next masterpiece.

I gave this book 5 stars.

About The Author

Valerie Keogh grew up reading Agatha Christie so when she started writing it seemed natural to write crime novels. She writes two different series, one based in Ireland featuring Garda Sergeant Mike West and a grittier one based in the UK featuring Nicola Connolly, a serial killer.

The Garda West series: THAT ONE MAY SMILE, CLOSE RANKS, MURDER ON CLARE ISLAND and DEATH IN FOXROCK. 

The Hudson and Connolly series: DEADLY SLEEP, TWISTED POWER, BITTER BUSINESS, and WICKED SECRET.

Valerie has also written a stand-alone psychological thriller, Exit Five from Charing Cross

In March 2018, Valerie signed a two-book contract with the publisher, Bookouture. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is out now.

Don't Forget To Check Out The Rest Of The Tour

The Haunted Broch by Wendy H Jones - Blog Tour Review

Today I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour for The Haunted Broch by Wendy H Jones (If you missed my review of her children's book Bertie The Buffalo, check that out here). Thank you to Kelly from LoveBooksGroupTours for having me aboard. 

The Haunted Broch

A Scottish Broch.

An archaeologist scorned.

A ghost disturbed.

The Detective Duo, Fergus and Flora, are spending their summer on an archaeological dig, searching for the Lost Broch. 

But someone—or something—seems set on sabotaging the project. An infestation of spiders—a swarm of mice—the campsite trashed—who knew archaeology could be so dangerous? 

And is the Lost Broch really under a curse?

My Review

Though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read on it's own though after reading The Haunted Broch, I'm personally going to go back and read the first too because of how much I enjoyed this. 

This kind of adventure is exactly the kind of adventure that I always imagined I would have when I was younger during my summer holidays. Heck even as an adult I imagine the adventures I could have which is why I was carried away by the excitement of doing something as cool as archaeology! I felt there was enough explanation was gone into without overloading and it doesn't talk down to the reader. 

The characters were really well developed and we learnt quite a lot about them as the story progressed. Both Fergus and Flora were really likeable and their banter and relationship is really enjoyable to read. 

Some of the themes are very grown up and very relevant in the current climate. I think it's important that these are covered in a way that can get the younger generation involved in the conversation - people not getting the recognition they deserve because of their race, religion, gender, etc - and can help their learning and understanding going forward. 

I could have done without the spiders! I am not a fan of spiders, but that is definitely a personal thing! 

Overall a great book and I gave this four stars.

About The Author

Award Winning Author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie, is set in the beautiful city of Dundee, Scotland. Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. This took her all over the world including Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. Much of her spare time is now spent travelling around the UK, and lands much further afield. As well as nursing Wendy also worked for many years in Academia. This led to publication in academic textbooks and journals. Killer's Countdown is her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mystery series. Killer's Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2107. There are now six books in this series with Killer's Crypt being released in August, 2017. The Dagger's Curse is the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries for Young Adults. This book is currently shortlisted for the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year. She is also a highly successful marketer and she shares her methods in the book, Power Packed Book Marketing.

Don't Forget To Check Out The Rest Of The Tour

Bertie The Buffalo by Wendy H Jones - Blog Tour Review

Today I'm really excited to be taking part in the blog tour for Bertie The Buffalo by Wendy H. Jones, a fabulous children's picture book. 

Bertie The Buffalo 

Bertie the Buffalo is based on a true story of when a Water Buffalo escaped from a Buffalo Park in Fife, near Dundee, Scotland. A rhyming book about the adventures Bertie got up to and how he safely returned home, demonstrating how important each of us is no matter how insignificant we feel. Bertie felt that no one noticed him. But he didn't need to think that as we are all special. We are all a part of one big family.  

My Review

I really, really enjoyed this lovely story. Bertie is adorable both in words and in the illustrations. It was nice to see an animal not usually given a spotlight in children's stories, as buffaloes are not your typical "cutesie" animal. 

I thought the pace and tempo of the story was perfect and it felt really natural and easy while reading. My five year old managed to read it fluently and pointed out how the words rhymed. 

The story was clever and covered some big ideas like dealing with different and new situations and the importance of family and friends. Each issue was covered in a manner that would be understandable to a child without overwhelming them with information or any fear. 

The illustrations were beautiful and memorable. I thought all of the animals were incredibly cute and the pictures told the story just as clearly as the words. 

Overall a really wonderful book and one I will enjoy reading again and again with my both my little ones. 

About The Author

Award Winning Author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie, is set in the beautiful city of Dundee, Scotland. Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. This took her all over the world including Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. Much of her spare time is now spent travelling around the UK, and lands much further afield. As well as nursing Wendy also worked for many years in Academia. This led to publication in academic textbooks and journals. Killer's Countdown is her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mystery series. Killer's Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2107. There are now six books in this series with Killer's Crypt being released in August, 2017. The Dagger's Curse is the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries for Young Adults. This book is currently shortlisted for the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year. She is also a highly successful marketer and she shares her methods in the book, Power Packed Book Marketing.

Don't Forget To Check Out The Rest Of The Tour